Whenever you look at lists of top fiction books, surely “American Gods” by Neil Gaiman will come up; and having read it I can tell why is that. What a great story, I loved how Gaiman played with the mythology: People from all over, came to live (or were brought as slaves) to the same land, bringing their beliefs and gods with them. But what if these ideas, weren’t just dreams and ideas, what if their gods had real power.
A history about gods walking among humans, what could go wrong. Everything and nothing, because these gods are what the people believe they are. New gods rise, and old gods strive to survive, to not be forgotten.
– “Who are you?” asked Shadow
– “Okay,” she said. “Good question. I’m the idiot box. I’m the TV. I’m the all-seeing and the world of the cathode ray. I’m the boob tube. I’m the little shrine the family gathers to adore.”
– “You’re the television? Or someone in he television?”
– “The TV’s the altar. I’m what people are sacrificing to.”
– “What do they sacrifice?” asked Shadow.
– “Their time mostly” said Lucy. “Sometimes each other.” She raised two fingers, blew imaginary gun smoke from the tips. Then she winked, a big old I Love Lucy wink.
– “You’re a god?” said Shadow.
– Lucy smirked, and took a lady-like puff of her cigarette. “You could say that,” she said.
Very nice paced story, I liked the story about the forgotten god. When I read it really got me off guard.
Other books I’d like to read related to this book:
- Deathbird Stories: A Pantheon of Modern Gods (one of Neil’s favorite books)
- The Histories by Herodotus.
- American Indian Stories, Legends, and Other Writings by Zitkala-Sa. I haven’t read any American Indian stories, the buffalo in Shadow’s dreams seemed interesting.
And yes, there is also a TV Series based on this book, I haven’t watched it yet.
